Thank you for your interest in New Page Books. Following are our editorial guidelines. If you determine that your proposal or manuscript meets these criteria, we welcome your submission.

Editorial Mission Statement

It is our mission to publish and distribute quality, well-written, nonfiction books for adult readers that engage, improve, inspire, educate, and heal.

Readers

Our readers are a diverse group, representing many age, job, and demographic categories. Yet they all demand the same high level of quality in the books they buy from New Page Books; these characteristics will be identified below under Content Standards. Our primary markets include:

Spiritually open minded people.

Explorers of history, science, and space.

Health conscious individuals.

People looking to improve their relationships.

People curious about the unknown.

Book Categories

Book Categories published by New Page Books include:

Mind, Body, Spirit

Supernatural/Paranormal/UFOs

Science/New Science

History/Ancient Mysteries

Earth Religions

Mythology

Alternative Health

Nutrition/Health/Wellness

and more

This list is by no means comprehensive and, depending upon the project's tone, approach, and perceived sales potential, we publish other categories. To get a good feel for the kinds of books we represent, take a look at our Web site (www.careerpress.com or www.newpagebooks.com), or check out our current catalog.

Among the categories NOT currently published by New Page Books are children’s books, fiction of any kind, cookbooks, humor books, picture books, photography books, memoirs, gambling titles, and coffee-table publications.

Content Standards

Titles are written at an adult-minimum high school-level. Titles are targeted to defined New Page Books audiences. Copy is written in a helpful, practical, how-to, often step-by-step-style. Subjects are current, not faddish or trendy; style is not highly technical. Titles include directories, listings, web sites, and references as appropriate.

Author Standards

Authors must be proficient at communicating in writing. Authors must have strong credentials to write on their topic. Authors should have some experience with publicity, such as speaking to groups and/or interviewing with broadcast or print media.

How to Submit Book Proposals

1. We will also consider a proposal. For us to properly evaluate your proposal and its potential, please include: Complete, detailed outline/table of contents of proposed book, with well-defined subject—what distinguishes your book from the thousands of other books published each year? Estimated length of book and approximate manuscript delivery date. Resources to be used. At least two complete sample chapters and an introduction/thesis.

A complete manuscript can also be submitted as long as it also contains the elements for a proposal as well.

2. In addition, please submit the following: Author information/biography/credentials in light of the subject matter: Why are you the perfect person to write this book? Sample copies of published articles and other materials you’ve written, and a complete list of your prior publications. An outline of your marketing plan, including competitive titles known (and how your book will be better), primary markets (who will buy your book and why), and promotional opportunities you may be able to take advantage of (such as seminars, contacts with media, etc.). If you’re the head of an organization that will commit to buy copies, you’ve gotten such commitments from major (i.e. credible) companies, or your last book sold exceedingly well, say so in your proposal. In your cover letter, please be sure to include your phone number during business hours, your street address, and your e-mail address.

3. If you want your materials returned, please include a self-addressed, stamped envelope whether you submit a manuscript or a proposal. Submissions without a self-address stamped envelope/package will not be returned. Please do not call looking for submissions after they have been rejected.

Proposals should be addressed to the attention of the Acquisitions Dept.

We are deluged with submissions. We have seen a lot in the past 20 years, and we’re admittedly a bit pressed for time. We are inclined to reject proposals that: (a) Don’t sell us on the book in the first few paragraphs; (b) Don’t anticipate and answer basic questions or allay obvious concerns; (c) Require us to do work the author should have done; (d) Raise any doubts about the author’s commitment to the project or his/her ability and resolve to deliver a well-written manuscript on schedule and in the proper format.

A proposal is a sales document. It forms our first impression of you. If the proposal is top-drawer, you will be seen as a pro. If it’s inadequate, you probably won’t get a chance to make a second impression - there’s simply not enough time, and too much else to do. Occasionally, an idea is so compelling it can overcome a weak proposal. Strong proposals raise your credibility; weak ones undermine it.

The process of writing a good proposal is as important to you as the finished product is to your editor. Writing a strong proposal forces you to think out what you want to say, how you’re going to research the book, how to organize the material, and, most importantly, to decide if the subject really holds your interest - if you’re not really interested in the subject, you’d be hard-pressed to convince a reader. To deliver a good proposal, an author must think deeply about the needs of the book’s audience, which is exactly what determines whether the book succeeds after publication.

Agents?

If you get a literary agent, it can be to your advantage. We tend to take proposals a little more seriously if they come via an agent, because we know the proposal has been vetted by that agent and is now presented in the best possible style and form. An agent may also be helpful to you in contract negotiations.

However, we do publish many un-agented books, so agent representation is not necessarily required to get us to publish your book. We recommend you at least discuss your proposal/idea with several agents to see if their representation is right for you.

Format & Presentation

Appearances are important. Your proposal's presentation will be seen as indicative of the form in which your entire manuscript will be delivered. A clean, easy-to-read proposal encourages an editor to put it on the top of the "to do" pile. Here are some tips:

Double-space and use reasonable margins on 8 1/2 x 11 paper. Don't handwrite or use markers or crayons (you'd be surprised what people send us!).

Unformatted proposals with many typos are taken less seriously than more well-prepared ones.

Before turning in your proposal, we suggest you put it aside for a period of time. Then, take a good, hard, objective look at what you're about to submit. Is it a topic that someone will be interested in? Are people waiting for this book? Will someone read it? Have you presented the proposal in a professional manner? Are you qualified to write it? Sometimes it helps to have someone else read your proposal, whose detachment and objectivity may shed light on something you're too close to see.

Make sure you keep an original copy of what you've sent us. We can't be held responsible if something is lost in the mail or, worse yet, by us.

Once you've submitted your manuscript or proposal, you should receive some word from us—pro or con—usually within 3 months. Please DO NOT call us; if we're interested, we'll track you down. Should we decide to publish your book, we will contact you regarding contract terms.